Officers
THURSTON COUNTY SCHOOL RETIREES ASSOCIATION
UNIT OFFICERS 2011-2012
President Helena Wilson
Vice President Ron Crawford
Co-secretaries Barbara Abegg/Ruth Kindt
Fiscal Treasurer Kay McCarty
Membership Treasurer Open Position
BIOS OF CURRENT OFFICERS, 2011-2012
HELENA WILSON, President: Now in her third year as our unit
president, Helena also is known for her four terms as fiscal
treasurer. She is a retiree from the Rainier School District and in
the past has been a registered parliamentarian. Helena is a past
president of her Alpha Delta Kappa sorority chapter, as well as
being a past president of the Northwest Region Disciples Women's
Ministries Program, which includes northern Idaho, Alaska, and the
entire state of Washington. She has also served in many offices of
the organizations to which she belongs.
RONALD CRAWFORD, Vice President: Ron taught vocational
agriculture at Toledo High School for eight years and served as high
school principal for two. He moved to the state department of
education, working as a program supervisor in Agricultural Education
for 27 years. During that time Ron was State FFA Executive Secretary
and State FFA Advisor, and he’s also done some consultative work
with schools on school reform. Upon retirement from OSPI in 2000, he
became licensed as a Registered Representative with Shelgren
Financial Group, Inc. and Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. Ron
retired in November 2009.
Kayren Kay McCarty, Fiscal Treasurer: After receiving her BA
from Idaho State University in 1978, Kay taught sixth grade in
Pocatello, Idaho, until 1989 and was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa,
an honorary organization of women educators. Kay moved to Lacey and
taught sixth grade in Centralia from 1990-2009, earning her MA from
City University in 1999. She enjoys theater, especially Shakespeare
in Ashland, Oregon. Teaching sixth graders about the joys of “The
Bard” was a passion of hers. In retirement, Kay loves spending time
with all three nearby grandchildren and her friends. She looks
forward to meeting other TCSRA members and serving as our fiscal
treasurer.
BARBARA ABEGG, Co-Secretary: Barbara came to Washington from
Pennsylvania lonely, having left her teacher friends behind in order
to help her daughter raise her children. When she realized WSSRA
offered wonderful opportunities to meet and help fellow teachers,
she joined and has felt fulfilled ever since. Having taught AP
English and college at SPSCC, she felt qualified to be secretary
when TCSRA was desperately looking for someone for that position in
2003. She’s been serving as secretary ever since, and even though it
can be demanding, she feels that she has received ever so much more
than she has given. She hopes to continue as long as our unit needs
her.
RUTH KINDT, Co-Secretary: Ruth graduated from Oklahoma State
University. She’s had teaching positions in Fairfax Co., VA, in
Russellville, AR, and, when her husband took a job in San Pedro Sula,
Honduras, C A, at the international school there. Ruth, her husband,
and their five children settled in Yelm, WA, where Ruth taught at
McKenna Elementary from 1980 to 2004. Retirement was a difficult
adjustment, so Ruth continued teaching by subbing in Yelm for
several years. Last year was the first, since retirement, that she
did not sub at all, and she is truly enjoying complete retirement.
Being active in TCSRA has helped immensely. Also, serving as
co-secretary for our unit has been a new endeavor for Ruth, and
she’s found it an enjoyable learning experience.